After last Sunday’s shock double elimination, is getting rid of two acts every week the way forward for ‘The X-Factor’?

As the current series of ‘The X-Factor’ continues to suffer from a drop in ratings, Simon Cowell is said to be considering eliminating two acts every week to keep viewers interested. The move comes after girl band Alien Uncovered and Leeds-born singer Bupsi became the first two contestants to be eliminated from the competition last Sunday, as part of a shock double elimination.

Simon Cowell could consider eliminating two acts a week, in a bid to increase ‘X-Factor’ ratings.

According to The Sun, the double elimination cause a a slight spike in viewing figures and now Cowell and ITV bosses are said to be considering using the format every week, in a bid to attract a larger audience.

It’s still early days but Simon Cowell is already tipped five acts for post-'X-Factor' success.

The ‘X-Factor’ might be suffering from lower ratings this series, but Simon Cowell still thinks he’s got enough acts to make him a load more money once the show finishes. The music mogul, who was honoured at the Music Industry Trusts Awards on Monday night, has also recently extended the deal for his Syco record label with Sony for six years.

Simon Cowell predicts success for five current ‘X-Factor’ contestants.

Speaking to The Mirror about the current Cowell said, "Most importantly I've seen three, four, five artists that could not only win, but will go on to sell records, a lot of records.” The judge also spoke about last year’s winner Ben Haenow, who has just released his debut album.

The music mogul reminded everyone who was missing at the Music Industry Trusts awards last night.

Simon Cowell caused a bit of an awkward moment at the Music Industry Trust Awards on Monday evening. Accepting the 24th MITS award in recognition of his contribution to the music and entertainment industry as well as his charity work, the ‘X-Factor’ judge thought the time was right to make a Zayn Malik joke in front of his former bandmates.

Simon Cowell made a Zayn Malik joke as he was honoured at the Music Industry Trusts awards.

Taking to the stage to accept the award from the One Direction boys, Cowell quipped: "Just by luck I get the award I've been wanting all my life and I'm completely hammered. Guys, who misses Zayn?”

The X Factor judge says it "doesn't matter" which the best act belongs to

The countdown to Christmas can officially begin because The X Factor live shows have again graced our Saturday night screens. As we count the Saturdays to Santa’s big day, Cheryl, Simon and co. are counting down their days to the big win.

Seasoned judge Cheryl will only back the X Factor act she thinks should win

However, Mrs Fernandez-Versini has recently revealed that she only wants to have the winning act if they deserve to be at the top spot.

Mason was originally eliminated from the competition, but got a second chance after one of the Boys pulled out.

Outspoken ‘X-Factor’ contestant Mason Noise has made it through to the final 12 of the ITV competition, despite previously clashing with Simon Cowell and insulting Cheryl Fernandez-Versini on twitter. The 22 year old will now compete in the live shows, starting next weekend, as one of Nick Grimshaw’s three Boys.

Nick Grimshaw will mentor the Boys category, which includes Mason Noise.

Mason was originally eliminated from the competition during the six-chair challenge, when he walked off stage after complaining about his lack of air time. Cowell told the singer “You should feel lucky to be on this show. Why don't you shut up?" and later branded him an “arsehole".

The outspoken music mogul will be replacing Howard Stern for the upcoming eleventh season, which begins in 2016.

Simon Cowell is returning to the States after a two-year break from TV screens, announcing that he will be a judge on the next season of ‘America’s Got Talent’.

Though the brutally honest judge has made his millions setting up the likes of ‘The X Factor’, ‘American Idol’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, and indeed co-created the popular NBC show itself in 2006, the forthcoming eleventh season will be the first time that Cowell has sat on the judging panel of ‘AGT’.

The One Direction star made an appearance at this year's judges' houses

If there’s one thing that has been constant about The X Factor over the years, it’s that Simon Cowell’s 80s pal Sinitta has helped him at the judges’ houses stage. However, this year she clearly didn’t get the call as 1D fave Louis Tomlinson took a seat next to the music mogul.

Louis Tomlinson could be on our screens every Saturday night next year

And it seems that while he was there Simon got a chance to look over his C.V. for a potential spot on the main judging panel in the future.

At the judges’ houses the remaining groups were rebranded over ‘copyright issues’.

The six acts in Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s ‘Groups’ category on the ‘X—Factor’ have all undergone name changes during the judges’ houses round. The name changes are said to be due to ‘copyright’ issues, but it’s common practice in the groups’ category to give acts a rebranding before the live shows.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s Groups have all undergone name changes.

While a spokesperson for the show confirmed to the Express that the acts had undergone name changes, they did not comment further. The changes are said to have taken place to avoid any potential ‘copyright issues’.

The judge had made no secret of the fact he didn’t want the Overs category, but picking his final six proved harder than even he had imagined.

Simon Cowell didn't want to mentor the Overs again on the ‘X-Factor’ this year, so Sunday night’s edition of the Six Chair Challenge was particularly tough for the talent show judge. Faced with picking which six contestants he would take to the judges’ houses, Cowell was indecisive and at times ruthless, as he whittled down the remaining contestants.

Simon Cowell had a tough time during the ‘X-Factor’ six chair challenge on Sunday night.

Holly Johnson, a 27 year old estate agent was the first to get the axe, following her rendition of Pharrell’s ‘Happy’. "This is very easy - it's no,” Cowell said, leaving new judge Nick Grimshaw shocked.

Simon Cowell and the producers of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ have confirmed the judging panel will remain the same as the show enters its 10th series. Cowell, David Walliams, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon will all be back next year, as will hosts Ant and Dec.

"I can't believe that in 2016 we are going to celebrate ten series of ‘Britain's Got Talent’. So, let's make this a special year and we want the best of the best to come and audition. There will be lots of surprises in store,” Cowell said.

The X Factor presenter spoke about his difficulties with the Loose Women panel

Cheeky chappie Olly Murs has revealed he has been anything but cheerful recently after a "difficult" break up with his long-term girlfriend. The X Factor presenter told the Loose Women panel that he had had a "couple of difficult weeks" following his break-up and spoke of his frustration over rumours that his boss Simon Cowell has been trying to set him up with his co-host Caroline Flack.

Olly Murs admitted that it had been a "difficult" time in the wake of his break up

The 31-year-old singer said: "I’m so cross with him. It’s so silly. I’ve obviously gone through a break up with my girlfriend which has been quite sad and it’s been quite a difficult couple of weeks.

The girls, who are being mentored by Rita Ora, were whittled down to six during Sunday night’s ‘X-Factor’.

‘X-Factor’ judge Rita Ora had a tough time on Sunday night’s edition of the ITV talent show. The singer, who is new to the judging panel this year, had to decide which six contestants would make it to the judge’s houses round during the show’s tense Six Chair Challenge.

Rita Ora has picked her six girls to take to the judge’s houses.

Ora has been given the Girls category to mentor this series, with Nick Grimshaw taking the Boys, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini the Groups and Simon Cowell (much to his disgust) getting the Over-25s. This year (for the first time ever) the judges’ categories were chosen by public vote.

The 2013 winner of the ITV talent show is happy to be cut loose from the SyCo record label.

Former ‘X-Factor’ winner Sam Bailey has spoken of her joy to be free from Simon Cowell’s record label Syco, meaning she can now work more and arrange her own gigs. The 2013 winner of the talent show said that her TV mentor Sharon Osbourne had advised her to leave the label, so she would be able to take control of her career.

Sam Bailey has said she wasn’t happy on Simon Cowell’s record label.

“Sharon said, ‘The sooner you are out of the record deal the better because you’ll get to do what you want to,’” Bailey told The Mirror. “There were lots of work opportunities when I was with Syco but the label wouldn’t let me take them.”

Meghan Trainor, Jess Glynne and Mark Ronson are the other celebrity guests helping the judges select who goes through to the live rounds.

ITV has announced some pretty major names from the pop world as guests for the judges’ houses stage of ‘The X Factor’ over the next few weeks, the biggest of which is former alumnus of the show Louis Tomlinson who’ll be assisting Simon Cowell.

23 year old Tomlinson, who finished in third place on ‘The X Factor’ with One Direction back in 2010, will be helping Cowell choose which singers from the “overs” category will be going through to the live shows later in the series. Tomlinson will be replacing Cowell’s regular aide Sinitta in the chair, and ends speculation linking former judge Louis Walsh with the role.

Simon Cowell has been told he’ll live to be 95, giving the ‘X-Factor’ judge another 40 years to continue his domination of the music business. Cowell has told the Daily Mail he visited an LA doctor who predicted his year of death, using high tech DNA testing.

Simon Cowell has been told he’s got another 40 years of life left.

“I had the DNA test done in LA which predicts when you’re going to die. They take your blood and DNA, then give you back a sheet of paper which says ‘We think you’re going to be alive until xxxx',” Cowell told the newspaper.

Unnamed sources close to the show have told The Sun that Walsh is poised to come back to 'The X Factor' in time for the live shows as a "fifth judge".

Louis Walsh could be in the frame to return to ‘The X Factor’ amid increasing concerns about flagging ratings. He is reported to be in talks to return to the ITV show in time for the live shows, even though he departed before the current series started.

Rumours have abounded since the start of September that Simon Cowell has been putting in ‘crisis calls’ to Walsh, the man he axed from the panel earlier this year having served on it since the show began in 2004.

A source close to the ITV production has now told The Sun on Thursday (September 24th) that Walsh may now be poised to make a spectacular return as a ‘fifth judge’ – partly to counteract the presence of Nick Grimshaw, whom viewers apparently find “boring” and has reportedly displeased bosses who believe he’s the main reason for the new series’ poor ratings so far.

The music manager has said he’d only return to the show if it was a ‘fun panel’.

After being axed from the ‘X-Factor’ after 11 years, Louis Walsh has hit out at the show’s new judging panel and in particular DJ Nick Grimshaw. But despite no longer being on the series, the 63 year old has said he still tunes into ITV every Saturday and thinks the show's ratings will improve.

Louis Walsh isn't enjoying the new ‘X-Factor’ judging panel.

“I’m not sure about Grimshaw. I haven’t seen much of him," Walsh told the Daily Star. "People don’t like change and I think they miss Dermot and maybe some people miss me. The new panel needs time to bed in.”

Why is the revamped ‘X-Factor’ just not bringing in the viewers this year?

The ‘X-Factor’ has enjoyed a slight ratings boost in its third week of series 12, with 7.55 million viewers tuning into ITV on Saturday evening. However the numbers are still significantly lower than last year's and the show is yet to go had-to-head with BBC One’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, which begins in two weeks.

Ratings for the ‘X-Factor’ have been low this series despite a new judging panel.

According to The Mirror, 7.55 million watched the show live on ITV at 8pm, and then a further 359,000 caught the episode on the ITV+1 channel. However this time last year the show was pulling in 8.43 million on ITV and a further 441,000 viewers an hour later.

The X Factor boss is hoping the former judge can revive a flagging show

Simon Cowell went all guns blazing for the latest series of The X Factor: poaching Rita Ora from BBC’s The Voice; drafting in young audience pleaser Nick Grimshaw; booting old-time judge Louis Walsh from the panel; and sticking with pretty Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

Simon Cowell is calling in old pal Louis Walsh to help with The X Factor's ratings slump

The ‘X-Factor’ judges have been given their categories for this year, with Simon Cowell mentoring the Over-25s for the second year in a row. For the first time ever, this series the fans were given the opportunity to select the judges’ categories, with a vote taking place on twitter over the weekend.

Simon Cowell will mentor the Over-25s again this year.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini was given the Groups, after mentoring the Girls last year, while new judge Nick Grimshaw will mentor the Boys and fellow newbie Rita Ora will take the Girls. After the categories were announced Cheryl expressed her excitement on twitter writing, ‘I GOT THE GROUPSSSSS!!! I am so excited !!’

The ITV talent show suffered a huge drop in ratings on Saturday night and claims that girlband Fourth Power weren't amateurs.

‘The X-Factor’ returned to UK screens on ITV, Saturday night (August 29th), with a revamped judging panel which doesn't seem to have proved a hit with viewers. The talent show scored a record low rating for it’s series premiere, as well as fan backlash over a girl group who have already released records.

According to The Mirror, the revamped show only brought in 7.11m viewers, a drop of nearly two million from last year's launch show. The numbers are the lowest ever launch ratings for the show, since 2012 when 8.62m tuned in.

Simon Cowell has addressed rumours about the longevity of One Direction’s planned ‘break’ in 2016.

Simon Cowell has addressed rumours that One Direction are permanently splitting up. The boy band, which is down to four members after the departure of Zayn Malik in March, devastated their fans earlier this week when they announced they plan to take a temporary break.

Cowell, their record label boss, reckons that the break will do them good, and will let them take their time about deciding to reunite.

Though they’ve spent most of the last week ressuring fans that their upcoming hiatus won’t be permanent, Simon Cowell has intimated that he won’t be putting any pressure on One Direction to reunite.

Ahead of the twelfth series of ‘The X Factor’ launching this weekend, 1D’s Syco record label boss Simon Cowell spoke to MailOnline on Wednesday night (August 26th) and admitted that he’d known for some time that the foursome would be taking an extended break after their “gruelling schedule” over the last few years.

"Keep your hands off him," the new judge has said ahead of this weekend's 'X Factor' return.

Rita Ora is fed up with female ‘X Factor’ wannabes flirting with Simon Cowell and is warning them that he is “off the market”.

Ora, who joined ‘The X Factor’ judging panel earlier this year, has spent the last week wading through the official auditions for the new series of the reality show that have been going on around the country. She hasn’t liked what she’s seen from some of the female contestants, however…

“I understand the power, it’s Simon with his T-shirt and jeans and all that, I get it. But there’s a limit you have to have, a bit of decorum you need to hold,” the 24 year old admitted.

‘X-Factor’ viewers have been granted even more power this year, as for the first time ever they’ll be the ones choosing which category each judge will mentor. Voting will open during the show’s first episode this Saturday on ITV and will take place on twitter.

The ‘X-Factor’ judges will have their categories picked for them thanks to a viewer vote.

Viewers will be able to vote by using the hashtag with the name of a judge and the category they want to see them mentor, for example #CherylBoys #CherylGirls #CherylGroups #SimonOvers. Voting closes at 12pm on Tuesday 1 September.

The 22 year old quit One Direction back in March, and is now making the first steps towards a solo career.

Zayn Malik is getting the next step in his career under way with the news that he’s signed a solo recording deal with the major label RCA, announcing in the process that he intends to make “#realmusic’.

On Wednesday (July 29th), Billboard revealed that the 22 year old ex-One Directioner has also signed up with management company Turn First, who also look after Iggy Azalea, and will be working with R&B producer Malay, somebody who has worked with the likes of John Legend and Frank Ocean.

The ‘X-Factor’ judge has said the band have made enough ‘hits’ to allow for some time off.

‘X-Factor’ judge Simon Cowell has hinted that it might soon be time for One Direction to go on a hiatus, following the news that band member Louis Tomlinson is about to become a father for the first time. Speaking to The Sun newspaper the boyband’s mentor said the group now had enough hits under their belt to allow for some time off.

The former Girls Aloud singer was not happy to hear the dreaded ‘c-word’ during the recent London auditions.

New ‘X-Factor’ judge Nick Grimshaw may have gotten on wrong side of colleague Cheryl Fernandez-Versini already, when he called the singer by her former married name of Cheryl Cole. The slip up occurred during the London round of auditions for the talent show which took place at Wembley earlier this week.

Nick Grimshaw mistakenly called Cheryl by her former married name.

According to fans in attendance Grimshaw referred to the Geordie singer as Cheryl Cole when asking for her opinion after an audition. Cheryl is said to have snapped back, 'It's Cheryl or Chezza!’

The new X Factor judge is rumoured to be doing very well as the funny guy on the panel

If The X Factor knows how to do one thing, it’s how to make headlines and those headlines are rarely about its contestants. When Simon Cowell revealed 2015’s judging line-up, which included himself, stalwart Cheryl, singer Rita Ora and radio DJ Nick Grimshaw, the panel found itself in the limelight and for all the wrong reasons.

Nick Grimshaw is being touted as Simon's new David Walliams on The X Factor

However, the Radio Times has reported that Cowell’s ambitious judging decision has paid off, particularly with his ‘new David Walliams’ - Nick Grimshaw.

The Cowell family has said they are 'heartbroken' over the loss of Julie, who was 89.

Simon Cowell’s mother Julie Brett has died at the age of 89, the Cowell family has confirmed. Ms Brett passed away on Sunday after suffering a stroke following a long illness, The Sun newspaper reports. In the wake of his mother's passing the 'X-Factor' judge has cancelled the first round of auditions for the talent show, which were due to take place today (July 6th).

Simon Cowell’s mother Julie has passed away aged 89.

“Today our beloved mum Julie passed away,” a statement from the Cowell family read. “Anyone who had met her would know what a truly special and kind lady she was. We are heartbroken and will miss her terribly, but she is now at peace.”

She announced in June that she was leaving 'The Voice' to join the ITV reality singing contest instead, but has spoken about her decision for the first time today.

New judge on ‘The X Factor’ Rita Ora has revealed that she couldn’t say no to Simon Cowell’s offer once she had heard about the organisers’ new plans for the reality TV show, and that it was this that was the primary factor in her decision to leave ‘The Voice’.

The 24 year old hitmaker spoke to Lorraine Kelly on the British morning chat show ‘Lorraine’ about her high-profile network switch from the BBC to ITV, saying that she just wanted “to be a part of it” when she heard about the new ideas.

The comedian and talent show judge may have already enlisted the rest of his ‘Britain’s’ Got Talent’ family for the project.

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge David Walliams is reportedly putting his experiences on the ITV series to good use and writing a sitcom based around a talent show. Walliams, who has been a judge on the series since 2012, is said to have already got his fellow ‘BGT’ judges excited about the project and they’ve even asked for starring roles.

David Walliams is writing a sitcom based on ‘BGT’.

Speaking to The Sun, Alesha Dixon said that when Walliams’ revealed the project she and fellow judge Amanda Holden immediately demanded parts. "There has been a conversation," Dixon said. "Amanda and me are very keen to be involved. I think Simon [Cowell] would be up for it too. We'll bully our way in! I told David that whatever he does, just make sure sure I'm a cool character.”

The new judge was unable to ignore a particularly difficult review of her new job

The appointment of Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw to this year’s X Factor has definitely divided opinion but what cannot be denied is that their addition has created a lot of publicity for the talent show.

Rita Ora as a new X Factor judge has not been warmly received by everyone

Good and bad, there have been a lot of thoughts and viewpoints over popstar Ora and radio DJ Grimshaw taking the two spare judges chairs but it seems that when it comes to really negative criticism, Rita Ora simply can’t ignore it.

The British pop star has reportedly reached a deal with ITV to leave 'The Voice' and judge on 'The X Factor' this year.

After weeks of speculation, it seems that Rita Ora has finally jumped ship from the BBC to ITV, according to insiders, and will be taking up a place on the judging panel of ‘The X Factor’, abandoning ‘The Voice’ in the process after just one year.

The Mirror reports that the 24 year old pop star has accepted the fourth and final judges’ spot, a week after it was suggested that she had been offered £1.5 million to replace the departing Mel B for the 2015 edition.

Rita Ora has reportedly accepted ITV's offer to become a judge on 'The X Factor'

The hashtag #ZaynIsComingBack had been trending, but a rumoured return for Malik would now seem to be put to rest.

Bad news, Directioners – in what looked like it might have been the promotional stunt of the year, it appears that Zayn Malik is NOT on the verge of returning to One Direction.

Over the last week or so, rumours had been escalating that that 22 year old Malik, who quit the group citing exhaustion during their tour of the Far East back in March, was set to make a sensational U-turn and rejoin the boyband.

1D will be remaining as a foursome, despite some rumours that Zayn Malik would be returning

Ofcom has received over 1,150 complaints about the use of a "stunt dog" on ITV's Britain's Got Talent. The broadcasting regulator was inundated with reservations about the use of a stunt double that helped Jules O'Dwyer and 'Matisse' the pooch win the grand final.

Is ‘The Voice’ coach Rita Ora the safest bet for the next ‘X-Factor’ judge?

With rumours rife that Rita Ora is about to jump ship from ‘The Voice’ to ‘The X-Factor’, the singer has been given a shining endorsement from one half of the show’s new hosting duo, Olly Murs. Murs will be hosting the talent show’s new season alongside presenter Caroline Flack, but before it gets underway there’s the little matter of who will be joining the judging panel to sort out.

Rita Ora is hotly tipped to become the next ‘X-Factor’ judge.

Ora has become the hot contender to replace Mel B on the panel even though she’ll be coming straight from rival talent show BBC One's ‘The Voice’. Speaking to The Mirror during Capital's Summertime Ball, Murs addressed the rumours that Rita was about to sign on for the new series saying, "I'll be honest. I think Rita would be a good one because she's done The Voice.”

The Strictly Come Dancing champion will have to make a first episode appearance despite signing up to present The X Factor

Presenter Caroline Flack was recently given a big promotion when Simon Cowell asked the small starlet to step away from fronting the Xtra Factor and take to the main stage for The X Factor.

Caroline Flack will be in demand on both the BBC and ITV later this year

However, after her stunning win in Strictly Come Dancing’s last season, the perfect ten scorer will have to appear on Cowell’s biggest Saturday night rival for the obligatory final dance during the first episode of the new Strictly series.

Given the chance the music mogul would love to produce the next election debates.

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘X-Factor’ judge Simon Cowell has revealed he love to bring a bit of his talent show smarts to spice up the next round of party leaders' election debates. The music mogul said that if given the chance to produce the tv debates, British viewers (and the party leaders) would be in for fire, trap doors and even a clapometer.

Cowell is currently judging ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and preparing for new series of ‘X-Factor’.

“I would love to do that. I’d do it in a heartbeat. 100% I’d have walk-ons, music, fire … and a trap door if people didn’t like what they said,” Cowell told the Radio Times. “And I’d definitely have a clapometer. I am deadly serious. Can we start a petition? I really would love a chance to do that.”